Barely a month after revealing he’d been diagnosed with cancer, comedian Barry Crimmins has died. Crimmins’s wife, Helen, who’s battling stage four non-Hodgkins lymphoma herself, shared the sad news on Twitter early Thursday morning.
“Helen here with sad news ... Barry passed peacefully yesterday with Bobcat and I,” she wrote, referring to comedian Bobcat Goldthwait. “He would want everyone to know that he cared deeply about mankind and wants you to carry on the good fight. Peace.”
Crimmins, one of the founders of the Boston comedy scene in the 1980s and a hero to the likes of Stephen Wright and Denis Leary, was well known for his left-leaning political views, which informed much of of his humor. He was the subject of the 2015 documentary “Call Me Lucky,” directed by Goldthwait.
Advertisement
Friends, fans, and fellow comics responded to Crimmins’ passing with emotional tributes on social media. Here are just a few:
Helen Crimmins, photographer
Helen here with sad news...Barry passed peacefully yesterday with Bobcat and I. He would want everyone to know that he cared deeply about mankind and wants you to carry on the good fight. Peace.
— Barry Crimmins (@crimmins) March 1, 2018
Judd Apatow, producer, director
Barry Crimmins was a compassionate, hilarious man who touched so many lives. He gave so much of himself to help other people. I hope his life inspires others to follow his example. And he was hilarious. We love you Barry. https://t.co/egRwEfiZda
— Judd Apatow (@JuddApatow) March 1, 2018
Lizz Winstead, co-creator of “The Daily Show,” comedian
Rest in Power Barry Crimmins. You fought with your whole heart to make the world better. Thank you. xo
— Lizz "Executive Time" Winstead (@lizzwinstead) March 1, 2018
John Hodgman, humorist, author
If there is peace somewhere, I hope @crimmins rests in it. But it hurts that he was outlived by this brief moment of garbage time. Because of his life, and now because he is gone, we know that the job is to fight harder. No rest for us.
— John Hodgman (@hodgman) March 1, 2018
Dana Gould, comedian, actor
Rest In Peace, Barry Crimmins.
— Dana Gould (@danagould) March 1, 2018
“He was some kind of a man. What does it matter what you say about people?"
- Marlene Dietrich in Touch Of Evil
Hari Kondabolu, comedian, filmmaker, actor
This one hurts a lot. Barry Crimmins was a good man with a huge heart who sacrificed a great deal to make the world better. RIP Barry. It was an honor to meet you & I will cherish every kind word you said to me. https://t.co/NBp1kzGEVI
— Hari Kondabolu (@harikondabolu) March 1, 2018
Michael Ian Black, comedian, actor, writer
Barry Crimmins died yesterday. If you don't know who he is, watch @bcgoldthwait documentary "Call Me Lucky." A guy who changed many lives in many ways. Whatever peace he has now, he earned many times over.
— Michael Ian Black (@michaelianblack) March 1, 2018